My Life at Speed

Preparation is Key – Red Bull Global Rallycross Seattle at DirtFish

Preparation IS Key. It really is. All the I’s must be crossed and the T’s dotted before you can really get yourself head-long into any event. The GRC is no different. There is much work to be done and these guys are all over it. Me? I just had to walk around and look at stuff and snap the occasional photo. Maybe run into an old friend or two and make some idle chit chat about how cool it is that they’ve been winning a lot lately..Read that as talk to Rhys Millen and stuff. Pretty easy day.

Well, not for the GRC construction team. Believe it or not, rain can actually hold up progress, even here in the beautiful and typically moist Pacific Northwest. There had been enough rain in past few days that construction of the brand new, super shiny (as the photos will prove) purpose built ERC inspired GRC course on the grounds of the world famous Dirtfish Rally School had been delayed. Now it was crunch time. Armco was still being hammered into place, and the tire bales were still awaiting their final positioning, as were the Red Bull Global Rallycross start finish banners.

I even heard a few onlookers gasp and say to themselves “there’s no way. No way this is ready for racing Friday”. That’s right…an audible gasp. Who still does that?

Anyway, it will be done on time. Friday morning, bright and early, this facility will be ready for racing, and much carnage will happen here. As sure as there will be rain in forecast. The course is tight and twisty, and unlike when they raced here three years ago, the final will see TEN cars on course at one time, unlike the six that were on course for the final back then. Oh, man…is this going to be nuts, or what.

Stay Tuned, kids. Much more to come from Red Bull GRC Seattle.

This building is a couple hundred feet long and is part of the GRC race course. THROUGH the building!

The construction crew was hard at work on the triple Armco guardrail all day. Nearly complete!

Ran in to Rhys Millen in the morning. Had a chance to talk briefly about his recent success. The wins prove that with a bit more time to test he and his Hyundai Veloster will be a threat! Sure doesn’t hurt that he got a win last weekend in LA with the Hyundai execs in attendance for the first time in three years!! LA Proved, he said, that Daytona was no fluke. Hopefully he can show them a little something more this weekend, as well. How will the course, being much different from Daytona and LA, stymie his progress? He doesn’t think it will, at all. A few tweaks to the suspension and he feels they have it handled. Anxious to see.

Construction on the starting grid nears completion. Being on the front row will definitely yield the advantage this weekend.

Turn three exit. tight. slick. Oh the madness that will happen here!

Many stacks of tire bales waiting to be placed around the course. Nice clouds…wonder how the weather will affect this weekends action! As for me, I say bring on the rain!!

Wrapping up my day was a quick chat with One Opinionated Woman favorite, Tanner Foust. Marsha, Tanner says hi! Tanner is looking forward to a solid weekend of testing in the new Beetle. He is realistic about their position in the championship and will use the last two rounds to make progress dialing in the new car. Thankfully for VW, it’s Tanner Foust. Because unless Tanner forgets how to be Tanner, they are probably in pretty good hands!

More tomorrow, everyone!

Ken Stouffer

I've been around some form of racing since I was a kid. First hanging around Ascot in Southern California. Then, after moving to Texas as a teen, I got hooked on drag racing and did that for almost fifteen years. In between I have raced Dirt bikes and Quads. 2011 Marked my 8th and final year racing up Pikes Peak: Five in the Pro Quad division and three in Time Attack. Future racing plans are in the works, but until then I'm at the track shooting for My Life at Speed as much as I possibly can.